So, being checked out on two different variants of type, means that, due to the presence of an instructor in one, different hours are logged . . .
You have highlighted the very point, namely that a "check ride" has no legal status at all. It is usually required either for insurance or the rules of a flying group. You do not need an instructor to be checked out on an aircraft (there may be different requirements when you have an aircraft which requires a type rating but I am talking about SEP).